Data Corner: Updated analysis shows bottle bills drive overall recycling rates

This article appeared in the January 2024 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
Nearly three years ago, Eunomia Research & Consulting and the Ball Corporation released a groundbreaking report examining recycling policies and outcomes across the 50 states. Now, it has been updated.

The revised “50 States of Recycling” report dives into recycling rates and policy drivers, including container deposit return programs. The analysis found that of the 10 states with the highest recycling rates in 2021, nine have container deposit return programs, also known as bottle bills. None of the 10 states with the lowest recycling rates have bottle bills.

The following are the 10 states with the highest and lowest recycling rates in 2021 (the rates exclude fibers and flexible plastics). An asterisk denotes that the state has a beverage container deposit program.

This article appeared in the January 2024 issue of Resource Recycling. Subscribe today for access to all print content.